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EP0154865B1 - Position correcting device for a laser beam passing an articulated waveguide - Google Patents

Position correcting device for a laser beam passing an articulated waveguide Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0154865B1
EP0154865B1 EP85101962A EP85101962A EP0154865B1 EP 0154865 B1 EP0154865 B1 EP 0154865B1 EP 85101962 A EP85101962 A EP 85101962A EP 85101962 A EP85101962 A EP 85101962A EP 0154865 B1 EP0154865 B1 EP 0154865B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
laser
articulated
fact
laser beam
arrangement
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP85101962A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0154865A1 (en
Inventor
Gerhard Prof. Dr. Müller
Gerhard Dr. Hohberg
Peter Dr. Greve
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
Carl Zeiss AG
Original Assignee
Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
Carl Zeiss AG
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Publication of EP0154865A1 publication Critical patent/EP0154865A1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B26/00—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements
    • G02B26/08—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
    • G02B26/0816—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light by means of one or more reflecting elements
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
    • A61B18/18—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves
    • A61B18/20—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves using laser
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/02—Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
    • B23K26/04—Automatically aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam, e.g. using the back-scattered light
    • B23K26/042—Automatically aligning the laser beam
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/02—Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
    • B23K26/04—Automatically aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam, e.g. using the back-scattered light
    • B23K26/042—Automatically aligning the laser beam
    • B23K26/043—Automatically aligning the laser beam along the beam path, i.e. alignment of laser beam axis relative to laser beam apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B7/00—Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements
    • G02B7/20—Light-tight connections for movable optical elements
    • G02B7/24—Pivoted connections
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
    • A61B2018/00636—Sensing and controlling the application of energy

Definitions

  • Articulated transmission systems of the latter type are often used in particular for medical applications, such as laser surgery, since there have so far been no fiber cables that are sufficiently break-proof and at the same time transmit in the wavelength range of the C0 2 lasers that are mostly used there with low loss.
  • the articulated arms used for guiding the laser consist of a series of deflecting mirrors which are fastened to swivel joints in such a way that each mirror together with the subsequent part of the articulated arm can be rotated about the axis of the respectively incident laser beam.
  • telescopic guides are often used between the joints, which allow the length of the arm to be changed.
  • Known articulated arms have up to seven swivel joints.
  • the beam emigrates.
  • the focus of the laser shifts, which is not particularly disturbing within certain limits, especially if the focus position is visually assessed using a reflected pilot beam.
  • the laser beam emanates from the free openings of the deflecting mirror or the focus optics within the articulated optics and strikes their sockets. With high-power lasers, this destroys the optics.
  • the object of the present invention is to create a joint optic for a power laser with a minimum of effort, which is lightweight and allows a sufficiently stable beam guidance without excessive demands on the quality of the bearings used.
  • the laser beam passes before entering the joint optics via an optical element which modulates the beam direction with a small amplitude, some of the laser radiation is directed at a position-sensitive detector arranged at the output of the joint optics and a circuit is provided, the signal of the detector is supplied to form a control signal for a controllable beam deflector arranged at the input of the joint optics.
  • deviations of the laser beam from the axis of the articulated optics determined at the output of the articulated optics are thus compensated for by a beam deflector arranged at the input.
  • compromises can be made in terms of the rigidity and the quality of the bearings of the arm, and costs can be saved by reducing the requirement for guidance accuracy, which far exceed the additional effort for the elements for regulating the beam position.
  • the element modulating the beam direction which preferably consists of a piezo-electrically deflectable mirror, at the same time as an actuator for regulating the beam position by superimposing the control signal on the modulation frequency on the modulation frequency.
  • auxiliary or pilot laser is mirrored coxially to the beam of the actual working laser, which is used anyway for the visual recognition of the focus, then it is advisable to arrange the modulating optical element in the beam of the pilot laser before it is coupled into the beam of the working laser and a separate actuator To be provided in the common beam path of both lasers.
  • Known photoelectric quadrant receivers can advantageously be used as position-sensitive detectors.
  • 1 denotes the housing of a C0 2 laser, the beam of which is guided via an articulated arm to a fakus optics 21 which can be moved by hand in several degrees of freedom and with which the beam is focused on the surface of an object 22 which is not specified in any more detail .
  • the articulated optics comprises a fixed tube 3 flanged to the housing 1, on which a second, telescopically extendable tube 4 rotates Lich is attached via a first pivot bearing 24, a third also extendable tube 5, which in turn is attached to part 4 via a second pivot bearing 25, and the cutting head 6, which contains the fakus optics 21 and is attached to part 5 via a third pivot bearing 26 .
  • Arrows 14, 15 and 16 indicate the direction of rotation of bearings 24, 25 and 26, while arrows 27 and 28 are intended to illustrate the telescopic extension of parts 4 and 5.
  • the parts 4, 5 and 6 of the articulated arm are angled behind the respective pivot bearing 24, 25 and 26, about which they can be rotated with the parts following them, and contain deflection mirrors 17, 18 and 19, via which the laser beam is guided in the articulated arm is.
  • the part 3 of the articulated arm fixed to the housing contains a wavelength-selective beam splitter 10, via which the beam of a pilot laser 2 is coupled into the articulated arm coaxially with the beam of the working laser 1.
  • This pilot laser 2 is used by the operator who guides the articulated arm to indicate the position of the focus of the invisible beam of the working laser 1 on the surface of the object 22.
  • the mirror 6, via which the working laser 1 is fed into the focusing optics 21, is also designed as a beam splitter. It allows part of the radiation from the pilot laser 2 to pass through without reflection and thus strike a photoelectric quadrant detector 20 arranged behind it.
  • the photosensitive surface of the detector 20 is divided into four sectors of equal size.
  • the sectors of this detector emit constant light signals whose amplitudes do not differ from one another as long as the beam from the laser 2 hits the detector 20 centrally.
  • the amplitude relationships of the constant light signals of the four quadrants change. This change is a measure of the amount of the emigration of the laser beam guided over the articulated arm from the axis of the articulated optics.
  • An electrical circuit 13 evaluates the constant light signals and supplies an actuating signal for an actuating mirror 11 arranged at the input of the articulated arm. The deflection of the actuating mirror 11 compensates for the emigration of the laser beam.
  • the positioning mirror 11 is attached to the housing-fixed part 13 via piezo elements 12.
  • the deflection of the mirror 11 also over e.g. Inductive actuators can take place, it is only essential that the adjustability of the mirror 11 is guaranteed in two coordinates.
  • Second positioning mirror 8 is provided, which is arranged in the beam path of the pilot laser 2 in front of the beam splitter 10.
  • This positioning mirror 8 contains a piezoelectric bending oscillator 9, which is periodically excited by a generator 7 and thus modulates the beam of the auxiliary laser 2 with respect to its beam direction with a small amplitude.
  • the sectors of the detector 20 supply an alternating light signal in addition to the sliding light signal, from whose amplitude ratio and phase position with respect to the output signal of the generator 7 the rotational position between the adjusting mirror 11 and the detector 20 can be determined.
  • the electronic circuit 13 also performs this evaluation.
  • the actuating signal it emits for the mirror 11 thus adjusts it in terms of magnitude and direction so that the partial beam of the laser 2 passing through the splitter 19 strikes the detector 20 centrally.
  • the circuit 13 for evaluating the direct and alternating light signals of the detector 20 can be implemented in various ways. The embodiment used depends, for example, on whether the modulation movement of the adjusting mirror 8 is linear or precessing.
  • Exemplary embodiments for piezoelectric working mirrors include described in DE-PS 2 950 919.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Mechanical Light Control Or Optical Switches (AREA)
  • Laser Surgery Devices (AREA)
  • Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
  • Lasers (AREA)
  • Radiation-Therapy Devices (AREA)
  • Mechanical Optical Scanning Systems (AREA)
  • Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)

Description

Zur Führung von Laserstrahlen verwendet man entweder Lichtleiter in Form von flexiblen Glasfasern oder Übertragungssysteme, die ablenkende Optik, in der Regel Spiegel, enthalten. Insbesondere für medizinische Anwendungsfälle wie z.B. die Laserchirurgie werden oft gelenkige Übertragungssysteme des letztgenannten Typs eingesetzt, da es bisher keine Faserkabel gibt, die genügend bruchsicher sind und gleichzeitig im Wellenlängenbereich der dort meist verwendeten C02-Laser ausreichend verlustarm übertragen.Either light guides in the form of flexible glass fibers or transmission systems containing deflecting optics, usually mirrors, are used to guide laser beams. Articulated transmission systems of the latter type are often used in particular for medical applications, such as laser surgery, since there have so far been no fiber cables that are sufficiently break-proof and at the same time transmit in the wavelength range of the C0 2 lasers that are mostly used there with low loss.

Die zur Führung des Lasers benutzten Gelenkarme bestehen aus einer Reihe von Umlenkspiegeln, die an Drehgelenken derart befestigt sind, dass jeder Spiegel mitsamt dem darauffolgenden Teil des Gelenkarms um die Achse des jeweils einfallenden Laserstrahls drehbar ist. Zusätzlich sind zwischen den Gelenken oft Teleskopführungen eingesetzt, die es erlauben die Länge des Arms zu verändern. Bekannte Gelenkarme besitzen bis zu sieben Drehgelenke.The articulated arms used for guiding the laser consist of a series of deflecting mirrors which are fastened to swivel joints in such a way that each mirror together with the subsequent part of the articulated arm can be rotated about the axis of the respectively incident laser beam. In addition, telescopic guides are often used between the joints, which allow the length of the arm to be changed. Known articulated arms have up to seven swivel joints.

Die einwandfreie Funktion eines solchen Gelenkarms hängt abgesehen von einer genügend genauen Justage der Spiegel von der Qualität der Drehlager bzw. Teleskopführungen sowie der Steifigkeit ihrer Verbindungen ab. Die dabei auftretenden Probleme wachsen mit den Abmessungen des vom Gelenkarm überstreichbaren Arbeitsbereiches. Die Erhöhung der Steifigkeit des Arms erfordert stärkeres Material und demzufolge grössere zu bewegende Massen, was die Drehlager stärker belastet und vor allem im dynamischen Betrieb die Handhabung beeinträgt.The proper functioning of such an articulated arm depends on the quality of the pivot bearings or telescopic guides and the rigidity of their connections, apart from a sufficiently precise adjustment of the mirrors. The problems that arise increase with the dimensions of the work area that can be covered by the articulated arm. Increasing the stiffness of the arm requires stronger material and, consequently, larger masses to be moved, which places greater stress on the pivot bearings and, above all, impairs handling in dynamic operation.

Treten jedoch Führungsfehler auf, dann wandert de Strahl aus. In erster Linie verlagert sich dabei der Fokus des Lasers, was in gewissen Grenzen insbesondere, wenn die Fokuslage über einen eingespiegelten Pilotstrahl visuell beurteilt wird, nicht sonderlich stört. Bei langen Gelenkarmen kann jedoch der Fall eintreten, dass der Laserstrahl innerhalb der Gelenkoptik aus den freien Öffnungen der Umlenkspiegel oder der Fokusoptik auswandert und auf deren Fassungen trifft. Bei Hochleistungslasern ist damit eine Zerstörung der Optik verbunden.However, if management errors occur, the beam emigrates. In the first place, the focus of the laser shifts, which is not particularly disturbing within certain limits, especially if the focus position is visually assessed using a reflected pilot beam. With long articulated arms, however, it can happen that the laser beam emanates from the free openings of the deflecting mirror or the focus optics within the articulated optics and strikes their sockets. With high-power lasers, this destroys the optics.

Zwar ist es bei Lasersystemen zum Auslesen von Informationsspeicherplatten bekannt, Regeleinrichtungen vorzusehen, die den Fokus des Laserstrahls radial einer vorgegebenen Spur nachführen. Diese Regeleinrichtungen werten jedoch die Ablage des Fokus von der sichtbar vorgezeichneten Datenspur aus. Ausserdem besteht eine feste räumliche Zuordnung zwischen der Bewegungsrichtung des Stellglieds und der des Laserfokus. Ist der Laserstrahl jedoch über mehrere Drehgelenke geführt, so muss bei der Bestimmung der Zuordnung zwischen den Positionskoordinaten des Fokus und den Stellkoordinaten des nachführenden Elements der Drehwinkel jedes Gelenks berücksichtigt werden. Dies ist jedoch nicht ohne weiteres möglich, denn würde man jedem Gelenk einen eigenen Winkelgeber zuordnen, ergäbe sich insbesondere bei Gelenkarmen mit mehreren Drehachsen ein beträchtlicher zusätzlicher Aufwand.In the case of laser systems for reading out information storage disks, it is known to provide regulating devices which radially track the focus of the laser beam on a predetermined track. However, these control devices evaluate the storage of the focus from the visibly drawn data track. In addition, there is a fixed spatial association between the direction of movement of the actuator and that of the laser focus. However, if the laser beam is guided over several swivel joints, the rotation angle of each joint must be taken into account when determining the assignment between the position coordinates of the focus and the positioning coordinates of the tracking element. However, this is not possible without further ado, because if each joint were assigned its own angle encoder, there would be considerable additional effort, particularly in the case of joint arms with several axes of rotation.

Die Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung ist es, bei möglichst geringem Aufwand eine Gelenkoptik für einen Leistungslaser zu schaffen, die leicht baut und ohne übermässige Anforderungen an die Qualität der verwender Lager eine ausreichend stabile Strahiführung ermöglicht.The object of the present invention is to create a joint optic for a power laser with a minimum of effort, which is lightweight and allows a sufficiently stable beam guidance without excessive demands on the quality of the bearings used.

Diese Aufgabe wird gemäss dem Kennzeichen des Hauptanspruches dadurch gelöst, dass der Laserstrahl vor Eintritt in die Gelenkoptik über ein die Strahlrichtung mit kleiner Amplitude modulierendes, optisches Element geführt, ein Teil der Laserstrahlung auf einen am Ausgang der Gelenkoptik angeordneten, positionsempfindlichen Detektor gerichtet und eine Schaltung vorgesehen ist, der das Signal des Detektors zur Bildung eines Regelsignals für einen am Eingang der Gelenkoptik angeordneten, steuerbaren Strahlablenker zugeführt ist.This object is achieved in accordance with the characterizing part of the main claim in that the laser beam passes before entering the joint optics via an optical element which modulates the beam direction with a small amplitude, some of the laser radiation is directed at a position-sensitive detector arranged at the output of the joint optics and a circuit is provided, the signal of the detector is supplied to form a control signal for a controllable beam deflector arranged at the input of the joint optics.

Gemäss der Erfindung werden also am Ausgang der Gelenkoptik festgestellte Abweichungen des Laserstrahls von der Achse der Gelenkoptik über einen am Eingang angeordneten Strahlablenker kompensiert. Demzufolge können was die Steifigkeit und die Qualität der Lager des Arms betrifft Abstriche gemacht werden und durch Verminderung der Anforderung an die Führungsgenauigkeit Kosten eingespart werden, die den zusätzlichen Aufwand für die Elemente zur Regelung der Strahlposition weit übertreffen.According to the invention, deviations of the laser beam from the axis of the articulated optics determined at the output of the articulated optics are thus compensated for by a beam deflector arranged at the input. As a result, compromises can be made in terms of the rigidity and the quality of the bearings of the arm, and costs can be saved by reducing the requirement for guidance accuracy, which far exceed the additional effort for the elements for regulating the beam position.

Da die Modulation der Strahlrichtung am Eingang der Gelenkoptik auf den am Ausgang angeordneten Empfänger Wechselsignale erzeugt, deren Amplitudenverhältnisse bzw. Phasenlage eine eindeutige Richtungszuordnung ermöglichen, ist immer eine korrekte Nachregelung der Strahlposition trotz der im Gelenkarm auftretenden Drehbewegungen möglich und zwar unabhängig von der Anzahl der verwendeten Drehgelenke.Since the modulation of the beam direction at the input of the joint optics generates alternating signals on the receiver arranged at the output, the amplitude relationships or phase position of which enable a clear direction assignment, correct readjustment of the beam position is always possible despite the rotary movements occurring in the joint arm, regardless of the number of used ones Swivel joints.

Es ist möglich das die Strahlrichtung modulierende Element, das vorzugsweise aus einem piezoelektrisch auslenkbaren Spiegel besteht, gleichzeitig als Stellglied für die Regelung der Strahlposition zu verwenden, indem dem Wechselsignal auf der Modulationsfrequenz das Regelsignal überlagert wird.It is possible to use the element modulating the beam direction, which preferably consists of a piezo-electrically deflectable mirror, at the same time as an actuator for regulating the beam position by superimposing the control signal on the modulation frequency on the modulation frequency.

Wird jedoch koxial zum Strahl des eigentlichen Arbeitslasers ein Hilfs- oder Pilotlaser eingespiegelt, der ohnehin zur visuellen Erkennung des Fokus verwendet wird, dann ist es zweckmässig das modulierende optische Element im Strahl des Pilotlasers vor dessen Einkopplung in den Strahl des Arbeitslasers anzuordnen und ein separates Stellglied im gemeinsamen Strahlengang beider Laser vorzusehen. Als positionsempfindliche Detektoren können vorteilhaft bekannte photoelektrische Quadrantenempfänger verwendet werden.However, if an auxiliary or pilot laser is mirrored coxially to the beam of the actual working laser, which is used anyway for the visual recognition of the focus, then it is advisable to arrange the modulating optical element in the beam of the pilot laser before it is coupled into the beam of the working laser and a separate actuator To be provided in the common beam path of both lasers. Known photoelectric quadrant receivers can advantageously be used as position-sensitive detectors.

Weitere vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen der Erfindung ergeben sich aus der nachstehenden Beschreibung der beigefügten Zeichnung, in der ein Ausführungsbeispiel dargestellt ist.Further advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the following description of the accompanying drawing, in which an exemplary embodiment is shown.

In der Figur der Zeichnung ist mit 1 das Gehäuse eines C02-Lasers bezeichnet, dessen Strahl über einen Gelenkarm zu einer per Hand in mehreren Freiheitsgraden beweglichen Fakusieroptik 21 geführt ist, mit der der Strahl auf die Oberfläche eines nicht näher spezifizierten Objekts 22 fokussiert wird. Die Gelenkoptik umfasst ein an das Gehäuse 1 angeflanschtes, feststehendes Rohr 3, an dem ein zweites, teleskopisch ausziehbares Rohr 4 drehbeweglich über ein erstes Drehlager 24 befestigt ist, ein drittes ebenfalls ausziehbares Rohr 5, das seinerseits über ein zweites Drehlager 25 am Teil 4 befestigt ist, und den Schneidkopf 6, der die Fakusieroptik 21 enthält und über ein drittes Drehlager 26 am Teil 5 befestigt ist. Durch die Pfeile 14, 15 und 16 wird die Drehrichtung der Lager 24, 25 und 26 angedeutet, während die Pfeile 27 und 28 den Teleskopauszug der Teile 4 und 5 verdeutlichen sollen.In the figure of the drawing, 1 denotes the housing of a C0 2 laser, the beam of which is guided via an articulated arm to a fakus optics 21 which can be moved by hand in several degrees of freedom and with which the beam is focused on the surface of an object 22 which is not specified in any more detail . The articulated optics comprises a fixed tube 3 flanged to the housing 1, on which a second, telescopically extendable tube 4 rotates Lich is attached via a first pivot bearing 24, a third also extendable tube 5, which in turn is attached to part 4 via a second pivot bearing 25, and the cutting head 6, which contains the fakus optics 21 and is attached to part 5 via a third pivot bearing 26 . Arrows 14, 15 and 16 indicate the direction of rotation of bearings 24, 25 and 26, while arrows 27 and 28 are intended to illustrate the telescopic extension of parts 4 and 5.

Die Teile 4, 5 und 6 des Gelenksarms sind hinter dem jeweiligen Drehlager 24, 25 und 26, um das sie mit den auf sie folgenden Teilen jeweils drehbar sind, abgewinkelt und enthalten Umlenkspiegel 17, 18 und 19, über die der Laserstrahl im Gelenkarm geführt ist. Ausserdem enthält der gehäusefeste Teil 3 des Gelenkarms einen wellenlängenselektiven Strahlteiler 10, über den koaxial zum Strahl des Arbeitslasers 1 der Strahl eines Pilotlasers 2 in den Gelenkarm eingekoppelt wird. Dieser Pilotlaser 2 dient dazu der Bedienperson, die den Gelenkarm führt, die Position des Fokus des nicht sichtbaren Strahls des Arbeitslasers 1 auf der Oberfläche des Objekts 22 anzuzeigen. Der Spiegel 6, über den der Arbeitslaser 1 in die Fokusieroptik 21 eingespielt wird, ist ebenfalls als Strahlteiler ausgebildet. Er lässt einen Teil der Strahlung des Pilotlasers 2 unreflektiert passieren und damit auf einen dahinter angeordneten, photoelektrischen Quadrantendetektor 20 auffallen.The parts 4, 5 and 6 of the articulated arm are angled behind the respective pivot bearing 24, 25 and 26, about which they can be rotated with the parts following them, and contain deflection mirrors 17, 18 and 19, via which the laser beam is guided in the articulated arm is. In addition, the part 3 of the articulated arm fixed to the housing contains a wavelength-selective beam splitter 10, via which the beam of a pilot laser 2 is coupled into the articulated arm coaxially with the beam of the working laser 1. This pilot laser 2 is used by the operator who guides the articulated arm to indicate the position of the focus of the invisible beam of the working laser 1 on the surface of the object 22. The mirror 6, via which the working laser 1 is fed into the focusing optics 21, is also designed as a beam splitter. It allows part of the radiation from the pilot laser 2 to pass through without reflection and thus strike a photoelectric quadrant detector 20 arranged behind it.

Die photoempfindliche Fläche des Detektors 20 ist in vier gleich grosse Sektoren aufgeteilt. Die Sektoren dieses Detektors geben Gleichlichtsignale ab, deren Amplituden sich solange nicht voneinander unterscheiden, solange der Strahl des Lasers 2 zentrisch auf den Detektor 20 auftrifft. Sobald der Strahl jedoch auszuwandern beginnt, beispielsweise, weil sich die Teleskopführungen bei Betätigung des Gelenkarmes leicht deformieren oder bedingt durch Schlagfehler in den Drehlagern 24-26, ändern sich die Amplitudenverhältnisse der Gleichlichtsignale der vier Quadranten. Diese Änderung ist ein Mass für den Betrag der Auswanderung des über den Gelenkarm geführten Laserstrahls aus der Achse der Gelenkoptik. Eine elektrische Schaltung 13 wertet die Gleichlichtsignale aus und liefert ein Stellsignal für einen am Eingang des Gelenkarms angeordneten Stellspiegel 11. Mit der Auslenkung des Stellspiegels 11 wird die Auswanderung des Laserstrahls kompensiert.The photosensitive surface of the detector 20 is divided into four sectors of equal size. The sectors of this detector emit constant light signals whose amplitudes do not differ from one another as long as the beam from the laser 2 hits the detector 20 centrally. However, as soon as the beam begins to migrate, for example because the telescopic guides deform slightly when the articulated arm is actuated or as a result of impact errors in the pivot bearings 24-26, the amplitude relationships of the constant light signals of the four quadrants change. This change is a measure of the amount of the emigration of the laser beam guided over the articulated arm from the axis of the articulated optics. An electrical circuit 13 evaluates the constant light signals and supplies an actuating signal for an actuating mirror 11 arranged at the input of the articulated arm. The deflection of the actuating mirror 11 compensates for the emigration of the laser beam.

Der Stellspiegel 11 ist über Piezoelemente 12 am gehäusefesten Teil 13 befestigt. Es ist jedoch klar, dass die Auslenkung des Spiegels 11 auch über z.B. induktive Stellglieder erfolgen kann, wesentlich ist lediglich, dass die Verstellbarkeit des Spiegels 11 in zwei Koordinaten gewährleistet ist.The positioning mirror 11 is attached to the housing-fixed part 13 via piezo elements 12. However, it is clear that the deflection of the mirror 11 also over e.g. Inductive actuators can take place, it is only essential that the adjustability of the mirror 11 is guaranteed in two coordinates.

Da zwischen dem Detektor 20 und dem Stellspiegel 11 jedoch keine starre Verbindung besteht und die Richtung, in der der Spiegel 11 den Laserstrahl auszulenken hat, um die festgestellte Strahlauswanderung zu kompensieren, von dem Drehwinkel der drei Gelenke 24, 25 und 26 abhängt, ist ein zweiter Stellspiegel 8 vorgesehen, der im Strahlengang des Pilotlasers 2 vor dem Strahlteiler 10 angeordnet ist. Dieser Stellspiegel 8 enthält einen piezoelektrischen Biegeschwinger 9, der von einem Generator 7 periodisch erregt wird und den Strahl des Hilfslasers 2 somit bezüglich seiner Strahlrichtung mit kleiner Amplitude moduliert.However, since there is no rigid connection between the detector 20 and the positioning mirror 11 and the direction in which the mirror 11 has to deflect the laser beam in order to compensate for the detected beam emigration depends on the angle of rotation of the three joints 24, 25 and 26 Second positioning mirror 8 is provided, which is arranged in the beam path of the pilot laser 2 in front of the beam splitter 10. This positioning mirror 8 contains a piezoelectric bending oscillator 9, which is periodically excited by a generator 7 and thus modulates the beam of the auxiliary laser 2 with respect to its beam direction with a small amplitude.

Infolge dieser periodischen Modulation der Strahlrichtung des Pilotlasers 2 liefern die Sektoren des Detektors 20 neben dem Gleitlichtsignal ein Wechsellichtsignal, aus dessen Amplitudenverhältnis und Phasenlage in bezug auf das Ausgangssignal des Generators 7 die Drehlage zwischen dem Stellspiegel 11 und dem Detektor 20 bestimmt werden kann. Auch diese Auswertung leistet die elektronische Schaltung 13. Das von ihr abgegebene Stellsignal für den Spiegel 11 verstellt diesen also nach Betrag und Richtung so, dass der durch den Teiler 19 hindurchtretende Teilstrahl des Lasers 2 zentrisch auf den Detektor 20 auftrifft.As a result of this periodic modulation of the beam direction of the pilot laser 2, the sectors of the detector 20 supply an alternating light signal in addition to the sliding light signal, from whose amplitude ratio and phase position with respect to the output signal of the generator 7 the rotational position between the adjusting mirror 11 and the detector 20 can be determined. The electronic circuit 13 also performs this evaluation. The actuating signal it emits for the mirror 11 thus adjusts it in terms of magnitude and direction so that the partial beam of the laser 2 passing through the splitter 19 strikes the detector 20 centrally.

Die Schaltung 13 zur Auswertung der Gleich- und Wechsellichtsignale des Detektors 20 lässt sich auf verschiedene Art und Weise realisieren. Die verwendete Ausführungsform hängt beispielsweise davon ab, ob die Modulationsbewegung des Stellspiegels 8 linear oder präzedierend erfolgt.The circuit 13 for evaluating the direct and alternating light signals of the detector 20 can be implemented in various ways. The embodiment used depends, for example, on whether the modulation movement of the adjusting mirror 8 is linear or precessing.

Ausführungsbeispiele für piezoelektrisch arbeitende Stellspiegel sind u.a. in der DE-PS 2 950 919 beschrieben.Exemplary embodiments for piezoelectric working mirrors include described in DE-PS 2 950 919.

Claims (5)

1. An arrangement for correcting the position of a laser beam guided by means of an articulated optical system, characterized by the fact that the laser beam (2) is guided via an optical element (8, 9) before entering the articulated optical system, which optical element modulates the beam direction with a low modulation amplitude, that part of the laser beam intensity is directed to hit a position sensitive detector (20) being arranged at the output end of the articulated optical system, and that a control unit (13) is provided receiving the signal of said detector (2) and generating a control signal for a beam deflector (11, 12) arranged at the input end of the articulated optical system.
2. The arrangement of claim 1, characterized by the fact that the same optical element is used for modulation of the beam direction and as beam deflector.
3. The arrangement of claim 1, characterized by the fact that the modulating optical element (8, 9) is arranged in the beam path of an auxiliary laser (2), which is coupled into the beam path of a work laser, and that both laser beams are guided via the controllable beam deflector (11, 12).
4. The arrangement according to one of the claims 1-3, characterized by the fact that the position sensitive detectors are quadrant receivers.
5. The arrangement according to one of the claims 1 -4, characterized by the fact that the beam deflecting optical elements are piezoelectric adjustable mirrors.
EP85101962A 1984-02-24 1985-02-22 Position correcting device for a laser beam passing an articulated waveguide Expired EP0154865B1 (en)

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DE19843406676 DE3406676A1 (en) 1984-02-24 1984-02-24 DEVICE FOR CORRECTING THE POSITION OF A LASER BEAM GUIDED BY A JOINT OPTICS
DE3406676 1984-02-24

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EP0154865B1 true EP0154865B1 (en) 1987-11-19

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JP (1) JPS60200220A (en)
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EP0154865A1 (en) 1985-09-18
US4659916A (en) 1987-04-21
CA1248378A (en) 1989-01-10
DE3406676A1 (en) 1985-09-05
DE3560983D1 (en) 1987-12-23
JPS60200220A (en) 1985-10-09

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